Gravity-valve.



FRED S. OLIVER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GRAVITY-VALVE.

Litil ,2 l'3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. as, rare.

Application filed April 21, 1913. Serial No. 762,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED S. OLIvEn, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in v Gravity-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to valves for ,controlling the flow of fluid's.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve for controlling the flow of fluids,

which is operated by a variation in gravity ing and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as

I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as expressed in said claims. i

lleferri'ng to said drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the valve of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation,

' partly in section. showing one of the applications of the valve of my invention.

The device 15 adapted to be use for sepa' vrating fluids of diiierent specific gravities, and is not limited muse to any particular fluid, nor is its application limited. to any particular type of apparatus.

In the drawingsl have shown the device as used in connection with a gasolene vaporizing or carbureting apparatus, but this is shown merely to illustrate the operation of the device. I

The device comprises a receptacle 2 adapted to contain a -fluid, and provided at its lower end with an outlet passage I, Arranged in the receptacle is a closed; hollow tubeor body 4 provided .on its lower endwith a stem or needle 5 adapted to control the aperture or passage 3. The hollow tube or float is preferably closed atall parts to prevent the entrance of liquideither by condensatlon or otherwise, the presence of which liquid would destroy the balance of the float. The hollow body or floatfl is preferably guided in its vertical movement by a pin 6, engaging in a closed bottom tube :21 arranged in the float at the top, and by means of the neck 7 arranged at the bot tom of the receptacle 2, into wvhich the needle 5 extends. Surrounding the neck 7 at the upper end is an upstanding collar 22 which prevents any sediment which may be in the liquid from clogging the outlet passage 3 or interfering with the action of the needle 5; This collar is preferably beveled or cone shaped on its inner surface to assist in guiding the needle 5 when the float 4- is initially inserted. A cock 8 is arranged below and in con'nnunication with the out let passage 3. so that the passage maybe closed when desired. The receptacle 2 is also preferably closed at the top so that its interior is not directly in communication with theatmospherc. The float is made of such size and weight that with a fixed level 'of fluid in the receptacle, it will rise when the gravity of the fiuid reaches a certain predetermined value. The weight of the float may. be adjusted by means of the loose rings or weights 12 arranged thereon. lVith the fluid in the receptacle standing at a certain predetermined level. an increase in specific gravity past a given degree will cause the float to rise and open the passage 3, allowing the heavy fluid to be discharged. andafter the gravity decreases, the float again falls, closing the passage.

In Fig. 2, I have shown the device arranged in connection with a tank or receptacle in which gasolene is carburcted. The gasolene is lraintained at a constant level in the carbu'reting tanli 13 by the float 14 controlling the inlet 15 into the float chamber 23. The float chamber 23 communicates with the carbureting chamber through the passage 2-1,. which extends partly above the that some of the air is blown through the liquid and some discharged into the vapor to obtain the proper mixture. its the gaso leneis volatilized, the lighter components erably arranged at the level of the liquid so I thereof are carried off, causing the remaining hydrocarbon to increase in gravity.

The higher gravity hydrocarbons are not suitable for volatilization and unless they are removed, will soon render the volatilizing device-inoperative.

The receptacle 2 is connected adjacent the I bottom of the Well 17, by the pipe 18, so

that the heavierfgr'avity hydrocarbons may floW into the gravity valve. The receptacle 4 2 isalso connected to the receptacle 13 by the pipe 25 at a point adjacent the level of the fluid, to allow the lighter components in the receptacle 2 to pass into the carbureting heavier ones remaining in the well 17 are conducted to the receptacle 2. The presence of these heavier hydrocarbons causes the needle 5 to be unseated, thereby allowing the heavier undesirable hydrocarbons to be discharged. The level of the liquid in the receptacle 2 remaining constant, it is evident that the discharge valve can be opened only by'a lowering of the gravity of the liquid therein. The float or tube 4 is preferably weighted or constructed so that with the liquid at a gi en level, its weight is counterbalanced by the displaced liquid, when that liquid is of a certain predetermined gravity. Should the liquid become heavier, its buoyant effect is increased and the discharge valve is opened, allowing the heavier liquid to discharge. In the device shown in Fig. 2, the flow of the heavier hydrocarbons into the receptacle 2 is substantially constant, and the needle 5 is always partly unseated allowing the heavier components to drop or trickle from the cook 8.

It is evident that the float or tube '-i need not necessarily be inclosed in a separate receptacle, but may be arranged in the receptacle in which the variations of gravity occur or are produced, or in any other location Where it can perform its function.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a receptacle having an outlet arranged adjacent the bottom, means for maintaining fluid at a constant level in said receptacle, a float in'said receptacle adapted to be raised by an increase of the gravity of said. fluid means on said float for past a certain predetermined value, and controlling said outlet.

2. Adevice of the class described comprising a receptacle having an outlet adjacent the bottom, means for maintaining fluid at a constant level in said receptacle, a hollow tubular body closed at the lower end arranged insaid receptacle adapted to be floated by a certain predetermined gravity. means for guiding said body, and means on said body for controlling said outlet.

3. A device of the class described comprising'a receptacle having an outlet at the bottom thereof, an upstanding collar surroundmg said outlet, means for lmiintaining fluid at a constant level in said receptacle, :1 hollow body arranged in said receptacle adapted to be floated by said fluid when the fluid reaches a certain predetermined gravity, and

a needle on said body for controlling said outlet.

4. The combination wlth a carbureting chamber having an outlet of means for maintaining a hydrocarbon in said chamber at a constant level, and means operative by a variation in the gravity of said hydrocarbon for opening said outlet.

5. The combination with a carbureting chamber having a well at the bottom, of means for maintaining a hydrocarbon in said chamber at a constant level, a receptacle having an outlet at the bottom arranged adjacent said chamber, conduits connecting said well and said chamber with said receptacle. and means in said receptacle operative by a variation in the gravity of said hydrocarbon for opening said outlet.

6. A device of the class described comprising a vertically arranged closed cylindrical receptacle having an outlet at the bottom, a closed cylindrical float in said chamber, means for maintaining a fluid in said receptacle at a constant level, a removable weight attached to said float, means for guiding said float vertically and a needle on said float for controlling said outlet.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 9th day of April, 1913.

FRED S. OLIVER.

In presence of- J. B. GARDNER, ANNE F. Has'rv.

said fluid when. the fluid reaches 

